Safety clamp for ski bindings employing a combined vertical and horizontal swing catch

ABSTRACT

A safety clamp for a ski binding includes a support assembly for attachment to a ski and a hood member pivotally mounted relative to the support assembly for engaging a ski boot in a releasable manner. Positioned within the hood member is a spring-loaded catch assembly composed of a common control member releasably engageable with a common support member so that the catch member can swing in the vertical and horizontal directions. The catch member is secured to the hood member and the catch support is secured to the support assembly. A domelike sensing surface on the catch member is movable in the vertical and horizontal directions while in contact with a control surface on the catch support. When an overload is transmitted to the catch assembly, the catch member rides off the control surface on the catch support and the hood member, in turn, releases the ski boot.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Heinz Korger; 3,326,567 6/1967 Pronzati 280/] L35 HA Heinrich Eckel. both of Munich. Germany FOREIGN PATENTS [21] P 868l86 1.145.070 3/1963 Germany 280111.35 Fled 1969 1 290 975 3/1962 F 280/11 Patented No 16,19. rance .1 [73] Assignee Fir-ma Heinrich Eckel Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh Munich, Germany 4ssislant Examiner- Robert R. Song [32] Priority Nov. 2, 1968 4nomey- McGlew and Toren Germany [31] Pl7037l9.3

ABSTRACT: A safety clamp for a ski binding includes a support assembly for attachment to a ski and a hood member pivotally mounted relative to the support assembly for engag- 54 SAFETY CLAMP FOR SK] mpmgg EMPLOYING ing a ski boot in a releasable manner. Positioned within the A COMBINED VERTICAL AND HORIZONT L hood member is a spring-loaded catch assembly composed of SWING CATCH a common control member releasably engageable with a com- 24 Claim ,3 Dra i Fi mon support member so that the catch member can swing in the vertical and horizontal directions. The catch member is [52] US. Cl 280/1135 T Secured to the hood member and the catch support is Secured [51] Int. Cl A63c 9/00 to the su ort assembly. A domelike sensing surface on the Field of Search 280/] 1.35 catch member is movable in the vertical and horizontal T directions while in contact with a control surface on the catch 56 support. When an overload is transmitted to the catch asl 1 References Cited sembly, the catch member rides off the control surface on the UNlTED STATES PATENTS catch support and the hood member, in turn. releases the ski 3,325,178 6/1967 Renge et al 280/1 L35 HA boot 57 52 5 /7 35 3e 36 77 43 91 13 2 2': 26 21/1 117/6 1 ap 76 29 5/ l l l 72 1 33 f5 I 5 K 5o 28 i, l

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43 Z2 9 10/ 8 1e 16 15 e7 PATENTEDuuv 1s 19?! SHEET 3 OF 3 Fig.3

AELQ.. 5Q MIEORS ATTOZ IOFYS SAFETY CLAMP FOR SKI BINDINGS EMPLOYING A COMBINED VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL SWING CATCH SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed to a safety clamp for ski bindings and, more particularly, it is concerned with a catch assembly formed of a catch support and a catch member arranged in surface contact with the catch support so that it is movable in the vertical and horizontal directions, and when an overload is transmitted to the catch assembly the catch member is disengaged from the catch support and releases the safety clamp. A tension spring acts on the catch assembly for securing the engagement of the catch member and the catch support to insure that a load is maintained on the catch assembly in the direction opposite to a release movement of the catch, that is, if a release movement is taking place in the vertical direction then a load is maintained in the horizontal direction and vice versa.

In the present invention the safety clamp combines the necessary vertical and horizontal swing catches in a single catch assembly employing a common catch member having a domelike sensing surface which engages and moves over a control surface formed on an inwardly tapering portion of the catch support. The control surface on the catch support is arranged so that the vertical swing catch remains fully engaged during movement in the horizontal swinging direction and vice versa. The tension spring acting on the catch assembly assures the engagement of the vertical and the horizontal catches until one of them is disengaged. When the catch assembly is released, the safety clamp can be displaced within the prescribed limits.

When the catch member moves in the vertical direction over the control surface, it passes over a surface having a convex shape relative to the catch member. ln effect, the control surface forms a vertical cam of which in the plane of the vertical movement of the catch member and in planes parallel to it, the control surface has a convex shape, that is, it projects toward the catch member. In the lower region of the control surface a cam tip is formed and in the engaged position the domelike sensing surface on the catch member which contacts the catch support is located above the cam tip. When a vertical movement is imparted to the catch assembly, which movement normally is instituted by an upwardly directed force exerted on the safety clamp by the ski boot, the control surface moves in the vertical direction against the sensing surface on the catch member. When the sensing surface passes over the cam tip the release point of the catch has been reached and the tension spring urges the remaining cam surface past the sensing surface and displaces the hood member, which holds the boot in place, into the open position. In the horizontal direction, the control surface on the catch support provides a channel shape appearance with the sidewalls or legs of the channels being inclined or diverging outwardly The channel formation provided by the control surface may have, forexample, a U-shaped, a V-shaped, or a trapezoidal cross section. With regard to the shape of the channel sections the important feature is the outwardly diverging sidewalls which provide a striking surface as the catch member rides in the horizontal direction across the control surface. in the embodiment disclosed herein, the curvature of the bottom of the channel in the support surface is adapted to conform to the curvature of the domelike sensing surface on the catch member. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the depth of the channel section, that is, the height of the sidewalls, decreases downwardly from the upper end of the catch member toward the cam tip formed by the convex surface in the vertical direction. In this arrangement if the force transmitted to the catch assembly has both a vertical and horizontal component, as the vertical component moves the cam tip on the control surface closer to the domelike sensing surface on the cam member, the height of the channel sidewalls which is traversed by the catch member travelling in the horizontal direction is reduced by the amount of the vertical component of movement of the catch member.

Preferably, the catch member is constructed as a plateshaped two-part lever secured to a stationary part of the safety clamp. The domelike sensing surface of the catch member is arranged on one part of the lever spaced from its connection to the stationary part of the clamp and the other part of the lever is connected to the displaceable part of the clamp which is releasable from the ski boot. Advantageously, the connection between the catch member and the movable part of the safety clamp is provided by a bolt or pin member secured to the movable part of the clamp and passing through an irregularly shaped opening in the catch member. When a release force is generated by a movement of the ski boot held in the clamp, it is transmitted -to the movable part of the clamp, that is to a hood member which, in turn, moves the catch member about the bolt secured to the hood member causing the domelike sensing surface on the catch member to move, in the disengaging direction over the control surface on the catch support, a distance relative to the extent of the release force developed by the ski boot. As indicated above, the catch member is secured to a stationary part of the clamp at a position between its sensing surface and the connection to the hood member and it is attached by means of a bearing pin secured at its opposite ends into a pair of bearing lugs formed on the stationary part of the clamp. Within the catch member the bearing pin is positioned within an oblong slot which is in a substantially horizontal position when the catch member is at rest. The catch support is arranged in a generally upright position and its lower end is secured for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis disposed transversely of the longitudinal axis of the ski to which the clamp is secured. The catch support is attached to the stationary part of the clamp, the cam tip formed on the control surface of the catch support is displaced, from the vertical plane passing through the catch support bearing, in the direction of the catch member. When a vertical movement of the catch takes place the cam surface and tip are moved upwardly past the domelike sensing surface on the catch member. During such movement, since the catch member does not yield, the catch support is rotated about its bearing axis in the relative movement of the cam and the sensing surface. As a result, a tension spring which urges the catch support toward the catch member is compressed. During this releasing movement action when the cam tip reaches the sensing surface, the tension spring urges the safety clamp into the open position. It is unnecessary to provide any additional outside force for displacing the clamp into the open position. When a horizontal movement of the clamp takes place, one of the inclined channel sidewalls formed by the control surface is urged against the sensing surface of the catch member, depending on the direction in which the releasing force is applied, and the catch support is turned against the pressure exerted by the tension spring. At the same time, the catch support is turned about its connecting axis with the stationary part of the clamp. ln movement in the horizontal direction the release point of the catch assembly is defined by the free end of the sidewall of the channel. When the sensing surface on the catch member reaches the edge of the sidewall of the channel, the safety clamp can be displaced with relatively little effort into the lateral open position. If the edge of the sidewall is designed in a manner similar to the cam tip movement into the lateral open position will also be possible without applying any additional force once the edge of the sidewall has been traversed by the sensing surface of the catch member. The hood member which provides the interconnection of the clamp with the ski boot is preferably mounted on a guide secured on the stationary part of the clamp.

Another feature of the invention is the cup-shaped adjusting screw which cooperates with the catch support of the catch assembly and urges it against the catch member. The adjusting screw is arranged substantially horizontally in the plane of the horizontal movement of the catch assembly. The adjusting screw is mounted in the guide secured to the stationary part of the clamp. One end of the tension spring is positioned within the cylindrical recess formed in the cup-shaped adjusting screw and while the other end of the tension spring is located transmitted to the catch within a blind bore formed in the surface of the catch support opposite from its control surface. The cylindrical recess in the jects from the safety clamp and serting a coin for efiecting any adjustment of the tension spring. The other end of the adjusting screw located within the safety clamp has a annular groove extending about its outer surface and a sliding block or similar member is engaged within the groove and is rigidly connected with a pivotally mounted tension indicator. The tension indicator is provided with various reference characters which are readable through an indicator window in the hood member of housing the clamp. in longitudinal movement of the adjusting screw, the annular groove carries along the sliding block secured to the indicator causing the indicator to be moved about an axis. Accordingly, the extent of the tension applied to the tension spring is exhibited by the indicator and by means of the be read through the indicator window in the hood member. Further, a marking character or other indicia are located on the edge of the window to indicate the exact degree of tension applied to the spring.

The stationary part of the safety clamp consists of two parts, one being movable relative to the other. One part is a slide support which is attached by screws or the like to the surface of the ski and the other part is a slide which is engageable with and movable relative to the slide support. While the slide is movable relative to the slide support, the designation of these two parts as being stationary relates to the release movement of the clamp wherein the slide and its support are locked relative to one another and, therefore, are held in a stationary embodiment of the invention, where the slide bears against a compression spring located within the slide support, the slide also undergoes a displacement movement when the clamp is released so that it is not in fact a stationary part. Nevertheless, as set forth herein, the stationary part of the clamp relates to the unit consisting of the slide and the slide support. The compression spring positioned between the slide support and the slide is a rotatable but nondisplaceable helical compressing spring which is accessible from the exterior of the clamp and is arranged concentrically about a threaded spindle secured in the slide support. One end of the spring bears against a nut arranged on the spindle and secured against being turned or displaced, and the other end of the spring-acts against the slide. in its position mounted on the slide support, the slide has two downwardly extending projections or lugs which extend downwardly past the threaded spindle and are arranged in spaced parallel relationship with corresponding projections on the slide support which act as bearing members for the threaded spindle. The spring extends between one of the projections on the side and the nut mounted on the spindle. The other lug on the slide is spaced on the opposite side of the nut from the first lug and serves as a stop for the nut. When the threaded spindle is turned using a coin in the same manner as for the adjusting screw, the nut is displaced along the thread of the spindle and the slide is similarly displaced. At the free end of the threaded spindle another nut secured against rotation serves as a bearing for the spindle and bears against a spring clip which in turn acts against the adjacent projection on the slide support.

For the manual release of the safety clamp, a lever extends from the end of the clamp opposite the one which engages the skiboot, and the lever extends inwardly within the clamp and is pivotally mounted on the guide. Manual release refers to any release of the safety clamp which is not caused by a force transmitted to the catch assembly when the skier experiences a fall. The manual release is effected by inserting the ski pole into an opening in the release lever or by pressing downwardly directly on the lever, for example, with the hand or foot. The downward movement against the lever causes it it rotate about the point of attachment to the guide and this movement is assembly over a tension member which compresses the tension spring. When sufficient force is exerted on the release lever, the catch support and catch member can be disengaged and the hood member of the safety clamp swung either upwardly or laterally. The bearing axis for the release lever is the same as the axis for the hood member. The tension member for effecting the manual clamp is a rod, bar or similar member having one end articulated to the catch support and the other articulated to the release lever at a point intermediate its axis of rotation and the point at which the pole insert opening is afforded in the lever. The greater the distance of the attachment of the tension member to the release lever from the axis of rotation of the release lever, the greater will be the lifting movement provided by the tension member. The other end of the tension member is secured to the upper or free end of the catch support. This construction represents a four-sided linkage and the required manual release force is relatively low, accordingly manual release can be effected without much effort. Another feature of the invention is the use of a connecting member extending between the catch support and the hood member, any turning movement of the catch support is transmitted over this connecting member to the hood member so that the hood member experiences a vertical movement about its point of attachment to the stationary part of the clamp. Preferably, the connecting member is a tension spring. In this arrangement one fulcrum on the hood is located approximately in the extension of the curve described by the other fulcrum during the release movement. Therefore, each movement of the catch support results in an expansion and thus a tensioning of the tension spring so that the hood member follows without any substantial delay the movement of the release lever when a manual release is effected.

the ski boot. When the ski is applied, the hood member is normally in its raised or open position. If the lug is used as toe holder, the rear end of the boot, that is the heel is placed on the closing lug and the hood is pressed downwardly by the leg. in this movement the catch member engages the catch support. This operation is frequently called the step-in." in a preferred embodiment, a vertically adjustable holder for the sole of the boot is secured on the hood member and is arranged above the closing lug. A rotating, nondisplaceable slotted screw is used for vertical adjustment. if the safety clamp is used as a so-called heel automatic, the crescentshaped sole holder embraces the rear end of the boot above the heel. The slotted screw used for vertical adjustment is rotatably mounted into the hood member. The free threaded end of the screw is joined to a bolt which passes through a bore in the hood member and is riveted to the hood member after the assembly of the slotted screw. The holder for the sole has a threaded opening which is traversed by the slotted screw. The screw bears on the wall of the hood and is thus secured against turning. If the slotted screw is turned by means of a screwdriver or possibly with a coin, the holder moves in a known manner up and down and thus can be adapted to different boot shapes. Preferably, the holder bears on the hood member by means of at least one compression spring arranged substantially perpendicularly to the slotted screw and to the longitudinal direction of the safety clamp. The compression springs are arranged within blind bores in the holder. Accordingly, the compression springs bear at one end of the bottom of the blind bore and at the other end on the wall of the hood member. Naturally, both ends of the compression springs can be supported in blind bores formed in both parts and it is also possible to arrange the spring in a single blind loosening or turning of the screw. Therefore, this arrangement provides a special type of screw-locking device.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 3 is another split view, showing in one-half of the view 7 an elevation of the safety clamp viewed in the direction A of FIG. 1 and a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the drawing a safety clamp for a ski binding is illustrated showing a combination spring-loaded and adjustable vertical swing catch I and a horizontal swing catch 2 which are automatically disengaged at overload, that is, when a skier falls. The catch assembly is composed of a common catch support 3 and a common catch member 4. The portion of the catch support 3 facing toward the catch member 4 provides an inwardly tapering control surface 7 against which the catch member 4 acts in a horizontal direction as indicated by the arrows 5 in FIG. 2 and in the vertical direction as indicated by the arrow 6 in FIG. I. As indicated by the illustration in FIGS. I and 2, the control surface 7 has a generally concave configuration extending inwardly in the side of the catch support 3 which faces the catch member 4. At its upper end, the catch member 4 has a domelike-sensing surface which contacts the control surface and travels over the control surface in the vertical and horizontal movement transmitted to the catch assembly when a skier falls. In the vertical direction the control surface 7 has a cam-shaped form. AS can be seen in FIG. 1 the control surface in the vertical direction has an arcuate shape both along the line of vertical movement of the catch parts or in lines parallel with the line of vertical movement. In the vertical direction the control surface 7 provides a vertical cam 9 having a release point 10 at its highest point, that is, the point on the vertical cam 9 closest to the right-hand end of the safety clamp as shown in FIG. I. Consequently, all of the release points 10 in a line extending horizontally across control surface 7 lie on a curve similar to the curve 11 as represented in FIG. 2 in the sectional view thereof. The line 11-" representing the section in FIG. 2 taken through FIG. 1 is located vertically above the release point 10 and while the horizontal curve on the control surface at the release point is similar to the curve 11 that is, it is substantially U-shaped, it differs from the curve 11 in that .its sides or legs are shorter. Accordingly, the horizontal catch surface of the catch assembly has a generally U-shaped configuration having a channel-shaped form such as indicated in FIG. 2. It will be noted in FIG. 1 that the sidewalls or legs of the channels which define the horizontal movement of the catch assembly have their lowest height at a point closely below the release point 10 on the control surface and the height increases in the upward direction of the control surface 7. As a result, since the height of the channel walls decreases toward the release point 10 of the cam, the path covered by the sensing surface 8 of the catch member 4 during horizontal movement will be shorter as the vertical release movement is more advanced, that is, as the release point 10 on the cam 9 is closer to the sensing surface 8 on the catch member 4. While the catch assembly can be released by a strictly vertical or strictly horizontal release movement, as a general rule the release force has both a vertical and a horizontal component when it is directed obliquely upwards and will result in a disengagement of the catch assembly if the release force is sufficiently strong.

The sidewalls of the horizontally disposed channels in the control surface 7 are inclined slightly outwardly from the longitudinal centerline of the safety clamp, as can be noted in FIG. 2. As mentioned above, the height of the sidewalls decreases as the channels approach the line of the release points 10 across the control surface and the sidewalls disappear or attain a zero value at a point below the release points 10. Accordingly, in' the event a strictly vertical release movement occurs, the movable clamp portion of the safety clamp can also be turned in the horizontal direction after the sensing surface 8 of the catch member has passed over the release point 10 of the cam 9. When the catch assembly is engaged, the catch support 3 is pressed against the catch member 4 by a spring 13. Due to the specific form of the control surface for both its vertical and horizontal directions, the vertical catch action and the horizontal catch action remain constantly under a spring load independent of any release movement until the release point in the direction of movement has been exceeded. If a releasing force is exerted against the catch but is not sufiicient to effect a disengagement of the catch assembly, though it may be a strictly vertical, a strictly horizontal or an obliquely directed vertical and horizontal movement, the spring action will remain in effect for both the vertical and horizontal catch actions. When the release force is removed the catch assembly will reset automatically and the safety clamp will reassume its normal rest position.

The catch member 4 is arranged as a plate-shaped double arm lever and is pivotally mounted on an axis provided by a pin member 14. The bearing pin 14 is positioned within an oblong slot 15 formed in the catch member. At its opposite ends the bearing end 14 is secured into a pair of oppositely disposed bearing blocks arranged in parallel relationship to one another and secured to a slide 16. For transmitting any release forces to the catch assembly, the catch member is secured to the movable part of the safety clamp by a bolt 18 which is riveted into sidewalls 19 of the hood member or housing 20 which forms the movable portion of the safety clamp. The bolt 18 extends through an opening 21 in the catch member and the opening 21 has a cross-sectional shape substantially greater than that of the bolt and it is also of an irregular shape. When a vertical release force is developed, it is transmitted to the catch member 4 by the bolt 18.

The catch support 3 is designed as a one-arm lever. In the engaged position the catch support 3 extends in a generally upward direction and its lower end 22, which is directed toward the slide 16, is pivotally attached by means of a bolt 23 extending between two bearing lugs 24 secured to a guide 25 located at the left hand end of the safety clamp as shown in FIG. 1. In the surface 26 of the catch support, which faces rearwardly toward the guide 25 and in the opposite direction from the control surface 7, a blind hole 27 is formed in which one end of the spring 13 is secured. The other end 29 of the spring 13 is held within the recess 30 formed in a cup-shaped screw 31. The outer end surface of the screw 31 has a slot 32 for turning the screw and adjusting the tension on the spring 13.

A tension member 35 is secured at one end to the catch support 3 at a point above the blind bore 27 by means of a pin 33. Above the point of attachment of the tension member to the catch support, the upper or free end 36 of the catch support provides an attachment lug 37 for a tension spring 38 whose opposite end is engaged to another lug 39 the function of which is described below. The guide 25 is riveted to the slide 16 by means of a bolt 40, note FIG. 1. Disposed between the bottom face 41 of the guide and the upper surface 42 of the slide 16 is a sliding plate 43 which has a particularly low coefficient of friction.

As mentioned above, the housing or hood member 20 is movable and it is pivotally supported on the guide 25 by means of a bearing pin 44. Additionally, a release lever 45 for the so-called manual release" of the safety clamp is also articulated at its lower end to the bearing pin 44. The release lever 45 has a single-lever construction and its upper or free end has afunnel-shaped ski pole insert opening 46. Intermediate the free end of the release lever and the point at which it is secured to the bearing at pin 44, the second end 47 of the tension member 35 is secured to the release lever by means of a bolt 91. The release lever 45, the tension member 35, and the catch support 3 provides a quadrangularly shaped linkage. By pressing downwardly on the release lever 45 in the direction of the arrow 48, note FIG. 1, the tension member 35 secured to the release lever moves in the direction of the arrow 49 and, as a result, the catch support 3 is displaced upwardly in the direction of the arrow 6. By inserting the tip of a ski pole into the pole insert opening 46 the release lever 45 can be turned in a direction of the arrow 48. Similarly, by pressing downwardly on the upper or free end of the release lever with the hand or boot a similar movement of the release lever can be effected. This manual release" provides the disengagement of the catch support and the catch member. When the catch support has moved the release point 10 of the cam past the sensing surface 8 of the catch member of hood member can be turned in either direction indicated by the arrows 5 and 6. As the support catch 3 is rotated a tensioning of the hood member tension spring 38 takes place. Since the line of movement of the spring passes the fulcrum or bearing pin 44 of the hood member, an opening moment is produced by the tension spring on the hood member. The attachment lugs 37, 39 of the tension spring 38 are arranged so that the slightest turning movement of the catch support results directly in a tensioning of the tension spring.

Adjacent the inner or open end 50 of the cup-shaped adjusting screw 31 a circular groove 51 having a rectangular cross section extends about the outer periphery of the adjusting screw. A pair of sliding pins 53 secured to an indicator support member 52 have a sliding fit within the circular groove 51. The indicator support member is mounted for rotation in the direction of the double arrow 54 about a bearing pin 55. On the surface 56 of the indicator support 52 markings or reference numbers are provided which can be viewed through an indicator window 57 in the top of the hood member 20, the markings or reference numbers representing the extent of the tension on the spring 13. A triangularly shaped indicator mark 58 is positioned on the upper surface of the hood member for reading the indicator, note FIG. 2.

The so-called stationary part of the safety clamp consists of the slide 16 and a slide support 59. Both the slide 16 and the slide support 59 extend in the longitudinal direction of the safety clamp, and the slide support has a pair of spaced upwardly directed partitions 60, 61 which extend transversely of the longitudinal direction of the safety clamp. A threaded spindle 62 extends through the length of the slide support passing through the partitions 60, 61 which are located at the opposite ends thereof. Additionally, the slide 16 which is positioned above the slide support 59 has a pair ofdownwardly extending partitions 63, 64 which also extend transversely of and across the path of the threaded spindle. Disposed on the threaded spindle between the two partitions 63, 64 on the slide 16, is a spiral compression spring 65 and when the threaded spindle is rotated it results in a longitudinal displacement of the nuts 66 and 68 and the slide 16 is also displaced by means of the compression spring 65. As with the other adjusting members in the safety clamp, the threaded spindles 62 can be turned by means of a coin inserted into a slot in its end.

The end 70 of the hood member 20 has a known type of ski boot sole holder 71 which can be moved upwardly and downwardly by means of an adjusting screw 72 fitted within the end 70. To prevent the holder 71 from turning relative to the hood, its end face 73 is arranged to bear against a place surface 74 on the hood member. The bottom end 75 of the adjusting screw 72 is riveted to the hood member. Extending upwardly from the top surface of the hood member is a safety strap holder 77 secured in place by means of a rivet 76.

As usual, the holder 71 is crescent shaped and bears against the surface 74 of the hood member by means of two small compression spring 79 arranged in blind bores 78 in the holder. The springs 79 press the holder 71 transversely against the adjusting screw 72 and thereby prevent accidental turning of the screw.

For mounting the safety clamp on a ski, the slide support 59 has four openings 80, 81, 82 and 83 through which screws, not shown, are passed for attaching the clamp to a ski.

When a releasing force is transmitted to the safety clamp, such as when a skier falls, the catch assembly operates in the following manner:

If the clamp is used as a heelgrip member, a vertical force acting in the direction of the arrow 84, note FIG. 1, will be exerted on the holder 71 when a skier falls in the forward direction of travel. This releasing force is transmitted from the holder to the hood member and then by means of the bolt 18 to the catch member 4 with its domelike sensing surface 8 being pressed against the control surface 7 of the catch support 3. Due to the action of the catch member, the catch support rotates about its bearing pin 23 in the direction of the arrow 6 and acts against the force exerted by the tension spring 13. At the same time, the hood member 20 is turned about its bearing member 44. When the sensing surface 8 ion the catch member has passed over over the release point 10 on the control surface 7, there is no additional force required in the direction of the arrow 84 and because of the reversed curving action of the clamp below the release pointfthe hood member is automatically displaced into its open position because of the action of the spring 13. Conversely, if, instead of a strict vertical action, the heel of the skier moves in a strictly horizontal direction, for example, in the direction of the arrow 85, see FIG. 2, the sensing surface 8 of the catch member presses against the sidewall 86 of the control surface, see FIG. 1. This lateral action also results in a displacement of the catch support 3. In its lateral movement when the sensing surface 8 passes the limiting edge 87 of the control surface the sensing surface passes along the end face 88 of the catch support see FIG. 2, and only a slight force is required to overcome the mutual friction in effecting release. If the surface 88 is inclined rearwardly toward the spring 13, after the sensing surface passes the edge 87 of the control surface, the movable part of the safety clamp will continue to move without any additional external force into this lateral open position. However, when a skier falls the releasing force transmitted to the catch assembly is neither a pure lifting or pure lateral turning force. In most instances the release force is directed obliquely upward and is composed of a vertical and a horizontal component. Consequently, in most releasing actions the movable part of the safety clamp will experience movement in both the horizontal and vertical release directions at the same time. After the release of the catch assembly, the displaceable part of the safety clamp can be moved into any desired position and the tension spring 13 is at least partly relieved. When the releasing action is in the lateral or horizontal direction, the required release force depends on the height of the sidewall 86 of the channellike surface of the control surface 7. When the releasing movement occurs in an oblique direction a release force established by the adjusting screw 31 cannot be exceeded, that is, the maximum spring action and during the release movement must be maintained. On the other hand, the lateral guiding force must be present for technical reasons (heel thrust), even if a certain upward movement has taken place in the release action. For this reason the sidewalls the control surface 7 have a decreasing height as they approach the release point 10 but still maintain the steepness or angle of the sidewalls. In this arrangement of the sum of the lateral and vertical component of the release force is always the same in effecting a releasing action.

The elasticity of the safety clamp in the vertical directionis about 8 mm., and the lateral elasticity comprises an angle of about 10.

When a skier puts on the skis having the safety clamp disclosed above and the clamp is used as a heel automatic with the toe clamp not being displaceable in the longitudinal direction, the hood member 20 is initially in its upper or raised position. The ski boot is placed on the closing lug, note FIG. 1.

The holder 71 embraces along its inner edge 90 the rear end of the ski boot above the heel. By pressing downwardly in the direction opposite to that of the arrow 84, the catch support 3 and the catch member 4 snap into engagement overcoming the force of the tension spring 13, The locking process for the catch assembly is a reversal of the vertical release action. The closing of the safety clamp is frequently referred to as the step" process. The step-in force is lower, however, than that in a release caused by a fall, since lower friction forces are expended in the running off" direction of the reversing lever relative to the bolt, than in the running on" direction of the releasing process.

it should be noted that the transmission ratios used in the manual release" have been selected so that very little effort is required to efiect such release.

To permit adjustment of the safety clamp to different boot sizes without charging the position of the slide support on the ski by means of the openings 80 to 83 provided in its base plate, the slide 16 is arranged to be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the safety clamp. When the threaded spindle 62 positioned within the slide support 59 is rotated the nut 66 mounted on the spindle is displaced in the longitudinal direction. If the nut 66 is displaced rearwardly, that is to the left in FIG. 1, it moves the slide directly along the slide support and if the displacement of the nut is in the opposite direction, it moves the slide indirectly by means of the compression spring 65.

Because the slide 16 is moved in the forward direction by the nut through the medium of the spring 65, which has its fixed abutment in the nut, it can be compressed by the slide and the slide support in any desired position of the nut corresponding to its travel stroke.

During the step-in process the housing or hood member and the ski boot each moves in an oppositely directed circular path into the horizontal position. The arrangement of the safety clamp on the ski boot extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski. Since the slide support 59 is rigidly secured to the ski, the slide moving rearwardly compresses the spring on the threaded spindle against the nut 66 and exerts a constant pressure on the ski boot which is independent of the release hardness of the clamp (the setting of the tension spring 13). With regard to the shape of the oblong slot 15 and the opening 21 in the catch member, it should be noted that the oblong slot in the catch member permits the longitudinal movement of the catch member in the direction of the catch support 3 with simultaneous rotation being caused by the bolt 18. The bolt 18 describes a circular path around the bearing pin 44 and pushes the catch member toward the catch support. If a regularly shaped hole was formed in the catch member, a vertical movement of the bolt and thus of the hood member would not be possible because the fulcrums of the catch member and of the hood member are not the same. Due to the use of the oblong slot 15, the overall length of the arrangement is shortened, however, the basic function of the heel automatic is not influenced.

The longitudinal compensation afforded during the rotational movement can also be imagined in another way. The opening 21 forms the bearing for the bolt 18. The bolt is located in the upper left curvature of the opening only in the ready state of the binding and with vertical movements. When the releasing force is the lateral direction, the catch member 4 remains along the center line of the binding, while the hood member is deflected with the bolt 18. The resulting movement of the bolt from the normal position is in the purely lateral direction and a similar displacement also takes place when there is an oblique release action which combines movements make the increase in the cross section of the bearing necessary.

What is claimed is:

1. Safety clamp for ski bindings comprising a spring-loaded lift and rotation device, unlockable at overload, including a common latch support and a common catch member releasably engageable with said common catch support for relative movement therebetween in the vertical and horizontal directions; said catch members being designed as a plateshaped double-arm lever pivotally mounted on a nondeflectable part of the safety clamp; one end of said lever being designed as a feeler dome engaging surface engageable with the control surface of said common catch support; the other arm of said lever engaging a driving pin connected with the deflectable part of the safety clamp.

2. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said catch member has a domelike sensing surface thereon in contact with the control surface on said catch support in the engaged position of said catch assembly, and the control surface of said catch support having a vertically arranged arcuate cam configuration extending convexly toward said catch member.

3. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the portion of the vertical cam configuration of the control surface projecting the maximum distance from the catch support toward said catch member forming a release point for the engagement between said catch support and said catch member so that as the domelike sensing surface of said catch member passes the release point in the vertical release movement of said catch assembly the catch assembly is disengaged and said hood member is released from the ski boot.

4. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a closing lug attached to said hood member for supporting a ski boot at one of this fronts or rear end.

5. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 4, wherein a vertically adjustable holder member for engaging and holding the sole of a boot disposed vertically above said closing lug, and a nondisplaceable screw mounted in said hood member for adjustable positioning said holder relative to said closing lug.

6. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 5 wherein at least one compression spring is arranged in said holder member extending perpendicularly ofsaid screw and extending in the longitudinal direction of the safety clamp for pressing said holder against said screw for preventing accidental turning of said screw.

7. Safety clamp for ski bindings comprising a support assembly arranged to be mounted on a ski, a hood member pivotally mounted relative to said support assembly and arranged to engage a ski boot in a releasable manner, a springloaded catch assembly providing a catch action in the vertical and horizontal directions and arranged to disengage when an overload is exerted thereon for releasing said hood member from the ski boot, said catch assembly comprising a common latch support and a common catch member releasably engageable with said common catch support for relative movement therebetween in the vertical and horizontal directions, one of said catch support and said catch member being secured to said hood member and the other being secured to said support assembly, and said catch support having a recessed curved control surface thereon and when said catch member is engaged with said catch support a portion of its surface is in contact with the recessed surface of said catch support for movement thereon in the vertical and horizontal directions toward a release point formed on the control surface; said catch member having a domelike sensing surface thereon in contact with the control surface on said catch support in the engaged position of said catch assembly, and the control surface of said catch support having a vertically arranged arcuate cam configuration extending convexly toward said catch member; the portion of the vertical cam configuration of the control surface projecting the maximum distance from the catch support toward said catch member forming a release point for the engagement between said catch support and said catch member passes the release point in the vertical release movement of said catch assembly the catch assembly is disengaged and said hood member is released from the ski boot; and in the horizontal direction, the control surface of said catch support has a channel-shaped configuration having the sidewalls inclined outwardly from the base of the channel to the outer ends thereof.

8. Safety clamp. as set forth in claim 7, wherein the depth of the horizontal channel-shaped cross section of the control surface in said catch support increases from a horizontal plane through the release point in the vertical direction, and the sidewalls of the channel-shaped cross section diminish to zero from the horizontal plane through the vertical release point to the lower end of the control surface.

9. Safety clamp for ski bindings comprising a support assembly arranged to be mounted on a ski, a hood member pivotally mounted relative to said support assembly and arranged to engage a ski boot in a releasable manner, a springloaded catch assembly providing a catch action in the vertical and horizontal directions and arranged to disengage when an overload is exerted thereon for releasing said hood member from the ski boot, said catch assembly comprising a common latch support and a common catch member releasably engageable with said common catch support for relative movement therebetween in the vertical and horizontal directions, one of said catch support and said catch member being secured to said hood member and the other being secured to said support assembly, and said catch support having a recessed curved control surface thereon and when said catch member is engaged with said catch support a portion of its surface is in contact with the recessed surface of said catch support for movement thereon in the vertical and horizontal directions toward a release point formed on the control surface; said catch member being a plate-shaped double-arm lever having the domelike sensing surface disposed at its upper end, said catch member having a first opening therethrough positioned intermediate its upper end and its lower end and having a second opening spaced between the first opening and the lower end of said catch member, a first pivot member extending through the first opening in said catch member and secured to said support assembly, and a second pivot member extending through the second opening in said catch member and secured to said hood member.

10. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first opening in said catch member has an oblong configuration with the longer dimension of the opening extending in the horizontal direction, and the second opening in said catch member having an irregular shape and having dimensions in the vertical and horizontal direction which are greater than the corresponding dimensions of said second pivot member, and the axis of said first and second pivot members extending transversely of the plane extending through said catch member and support member in the longitudinal direction of the safety clamp.

I]. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said catch support extends in a upward position when in engagement with said catch member and said catch support has an opening extending therethrough near the lower end thereof, a pivot member extending through and in closely fitting engagement with the opening in said catch support and said pivot member being secured to said support assembly.

12. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said support assembly comprises a slide support arranged to be affixed to a ski, a slide mounted on said slide support, and means for displacing said slide relative to said slide support for adjusting the position of the safety clamp on a ski for adapting to various lengths of ski boots.

13. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said slide support has a pair of partitions spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the ski and extending upwardly from said slide support, said slide having a pair of partitions extending downwardly from the said slide and positioned thereon between said partitions on said slide support, a threaded spindle extending longitudinally through said partitions on said slide support and said slide, a spring extending about said threaded spindle and disposed between said partitions on said slide.

14. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 12, wherein a guide is secured to said slide and is arranged to rotate about a vertical axis relative to said slide, said guide being positioned on the opposite side of said catch support from said catch member.

15. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 14, wherein a cupshaped adjusting screw is rotatably mounted in said guide and has a recess therein facing toward said catch support, said catch support having a blind bore therein spaced from and in alignment with the recess in said adjusting screw, and a spring extending in a substantially horizontal position is seated at one end within theblind bore in said catch support at the other end within the recess in said adjusting screw for adjustably spring loading said catch assembly.

16. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 14, including a pivot member positioned within said guide member and extending transversely of the longitudinal direction of the safety clamp, and said hood member being pivotally mounted on said pivot member in said guide member so that said pivot member can rotate in a vertical plane about said pivot member.

17. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 14, wherein said adjusting screw extends from said guide member inwardly within said hood member, the inner end of said adjusting screw having a circular groove formed about its exterior periphery, a sliding block movably positioned within said groove in said adjusting screw, a tension indicator member rigidly connected to said sliding block, and means on said indicator member for exhibiting the extent of the tension impressed on said spring by said adjusting screw.

18. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said hood member has an indicator window therein arranged above said indicator member and a marker formed on said hood member adjacent the indicator window for reading said indicator member.

19. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 14, including a lever pivotally secured to said guide for movement in a vertical plane, and a tension member secured at one end to said lever and at its other end to said support member for manually releasing said catch assembly when a downward force is exerted against said lever.

20. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 19, wherein said lever has an opening formed in its upper end for receiving the tip of a ski pole for pivoting said lever and releasing said catch support from said catch member through the medium of said tension member.

21. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 20, wherein said lever is secured to the same pivot member in said guide member as said hood member, said tension member being secured to said lever at a point intermediate the connection of said lever member to said guide member and the end of said lever member having the opening for receiving the ski pole tip, and said tension member having a rodlike configuration and extending from said lever member to the upper end of said catch support and being pivotally connected thereto.

22. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 21, wherein a longitudinally extending connecting member is secured at one end to the upper end of said catch support and at its other end to said hood member.

23. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 22, wherein said connecting member is a tension spring.

24. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 23, wherein the point of attachment of said tension spring to said hood member is positioned on the rear extension of a curve described by the connection of the other end of said tension member to said catch support when said catch support is displaced during release.

l l i O 

1. Safety clamp for ski bindings comprising a spring-loaded lift and rotation locking device, unlockable at overload, including a common latch support and a common catch member releasably engageable with said common catch support for relative movement therebetween in the vertical and horizontal directions; said catch member being designed as a plate-shaped double-arm lever pivotally mounted on a nondeflectable part of the safety clamp; one end of said lever being designed as a feeler dome engaging surface engageable with a control surface of said common catch support; the other arm of said lever engaging a driving pin connected with the deflectable part of the safety clamp.
 2. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said catch member has a domelike sensing surface thereon in contact with the control surface on said catch support in the engaged position of said catch assembly, and the control surface of said catch support having a vertically arranged arcuate cam configuration extending convexly toward said catch member.
 3. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the portion of the vertical cam configuration of the control surface projecting the maximum distance from the catch support toward said catch member forming a release point for the engagement between said catch support and said catch member so that as the domelike sensing surface of said catch member passes the release point in the vertical release movement of said catch assembly, the catch assembly is disengaged and said hood member is released from the ski boot.
 4. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a closing lug attached to said hood member for supporting a ski boot at one of its front or rear end.
 5. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 4, wherein a vertically adjustable holder member for engaging and holding the sole of a boot disposed vertically above said closing lug, and a nondisplaceable screw mounted in said hood member for adjustably positioning said holder relative to said closing lug.
 6. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 5, wherein at least one compression spring is arranged in said holder member extending perpendicularly of said screw and extending in the longitudinal direction of the safety clamp for pressing said holder against said screw for preventing accidental turning of said screw.
 7. Safety clamp for ski bindings comprising a support assembly arranged to be mounted on a ski, a hood member pivotally mounted relative to said support assembly and arranged to engage a ski boot in a releasable manner, a spring-loaded catch assembly providing a catch action in the vertical and horizontal directions and arranged to disengage when an overload is exerted thereon for releasing said hood member from the ski boot, said catch assembly comprising a common latch support and a common catch member releasably engageable with said common catch support for relative movement therebetween in the vertical and horizontal directions, one of said catch support and said catch member being secured to said hood member and the other being secured to said support assembly, and said catch support having a recessed curved control surface thereon and when said catch member is engaged with said catch support a portion of its surface is in contact with the recessed surface of said catch support for movement thereon in the vertical and horizontal directions toward a release point formed on the control surface; said catch member having a domelike sensing surface thereon in contact with the control surface on said catch support in the engaged position of said catch assembly, and the control surface of said catch support having a vertically arranged arcuate cam configuration extending convexly toward said catch member; thE portion of the vertical cam configuration of the control surface projecting the maximum distance from the catch support toward said catch member forming a release point for the engagement between said catch support and said catch member so that as the domelike sensing surface of said catch member passes the release point in the vertical release movement of said catch assembly, the catch assembly is disengaged and said hood member is released from the ski boot; and, in the horizontal direction, the control surface of said catch support has a channel-shaped configuration having the sidewalls inclined outwardly from the base of the channel to the outer ends thereof.
 8. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the depth of the horizontal channel-shaped cross section of the control surface in said catch support increases from a horizontal plane through the release point in the vertical direction, and the sidewalls of the channel-shaped cross section diminish to zero from the horizontal plane through the vertical release point to the lower end of the control surface.
 9. Safety clamp for ski bindings comprising a support assembly arranged to be mounted on a ski, a hood member pivotally mounted relative to said support assembly and arranged to engage a ski boot in a releasable manner, a spring-loaded catch assembly providing a catch action in the vertical and horizontal directions and arranged to disengage when an overload is exerted thereon for releasing said hood member from the ski boot, said catch assembly comprising a common latch support and a common catch member releasably engageable with said common catch support for relative movement therebetween in the vertical and horizontal directions, one of said catch support and said catch member being secured to said hood member and the other being secured to said support assembly, and said catch support having a recessed curved control surface thereon and when said catch member is engaged with said catch support a portion of its surface is in contact with the recessed surface of said catch support for movement thereon in the vertical and horizontal directions toward a release point formed on the control surface; said catch member being a plate-shaped double-arm lever having the domelike sensing surface disposed at its upper end, said catch member having a first opening therethrough positioned intermediate its upper end and its lower end and having a second opening spaced between the first opening and the lower end of said catch member, a first pivot member extending through the first opening in said catch member and secured to said support assembly, and a second pivot member extending through the second opening in said catch member and secured to said hood member.
 10. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first opening in said catch member has an oblong configuration with the longer dimension of the opening extending in the horizontal direction, and the second opening in said catch member having an irregular shape and having dimensions in the vertical and horizontal direction which are greater than the corresponding dimensions of said second pivot member, and the axis of said first and second pivot members extending transversely of the plane extending through said catch member and support member in the longitudinal direction of the safety clamp.
 11. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said catch support extends in a upward position when in engagement with said catch member and said catch support has an opening extending therethrough near the lower end thereof, a pivot member extending through and in closely fitting engagement with the opening in said catch support and said pivot member being secured to said support assembly.
 12. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said support assembly comprises a slide support arranged to be affixed to a ski, a slide mounted on said slide support, and means for displacing said slide relative to said slide support for adjusting the position of the safety clamp on a ski for adapting to various lengths of ski boots.
 13. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said slide support has a pair of partitions spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the ski and extending upwardly from said slide support, said slide having a pair of partitions extending downwardly from the said slide and positioned thereon between said partitions on said slide support, a threaded spindle extending longitudinally through said partitions on said slide support and said slide, a spring extending about said threaded spindle and disposed between said partitions on said slide, and at least one nut mounted on said threaded spindle and secured thereon against rotation and said nut being positioned between said spring and one of said partitions on said slide.
 14. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 12, wherein a guide is secured to said slide and is arranged to rotate about a vertical axis relative to said slide, said guide being positioned on the opposite side of said catch support from said catch member.
 15. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 14, wherein a cup-shaped adjusting screw is rotatably mounted in said guide and has a recess therein facing toward said catch support, said catch support having a blind bore therein spaced from and in alignment with the recess in said adjusting screw, and a spring extending in a substantially horizontal position is seated at one end within the blind bore in said catch support at the other end within the recess in said adjusting screw for adjustably spring loading said catch assembly.
 16. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 14, including a pivot member positioned within said guide member and extending transversely of the longitudinal direction of the safety clamp, and said hood member being pivotally mounted on said pivot member in said guide member so that said pivot member can rotate in a vertical plane about said pivot member.
 17. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 14, wherein said adjusting screw extends from said guide member inwardly within said hood member, the inner end of said adjusting screw having a circular groove formed about its exterior periphery, a sliding block movably positioned within said groove in said adjusting screw, a tension indicator member rigidly connected to said sliding block, and means on said indicator member for exhibiting the extent of the tension impressed on said spring by said adjusting screw.
 18. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said hood member has an indicator window therein arranged above said indicator member and a marker formed on said hood member adjacent the indicator window for reading said indicator member.
 19. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 14, including a lever pivotally secured to said guide for movement in a vertical plane, and a tension member secured at one end to said lever and at its other end to said support member for manually releasing said catch assembly when a downward force is exerted against said lever.
 20. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 19, wherein said lever has an opening formed in its upper end for receiving the tip of a ski pole for pivoting said lever and releasing said catch support from said catch member through the medium of said tension member.
 21. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 20, wherein said lever is secured to the same pivot member in said guide member as said hood member, said tension member being secured to said lever at a point intermediate the connection of said lever member to said guide member and the end of said lever member having the opening for receiving the ski pole tip, and said tension member having a rodlike configuration and extending from said lever member to the upper end of said catch support and being pivotally connected thereto.
 22. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 21, wherein a longitudinally extending connecting member is secured at one end to the upper end of said catch support and at its other end to said hood member.
 23. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 22, wherein said connecting member is a tension spring.
 24. Safety clamp, as set forth in claim 23, wherein the point of attachment of said tension spring to said hood member is positioned on the rear extension of a curve described by the connection of the other end of said tension member to said catch support when said catch support is displaced during release. 